Northeast Elementary School students attempt to help break world record

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Juwuan Hooker arranges a stack of speed stack containers as he and other Northeast Elementary School students participate in Stack Up 2012 in their attempt to earn a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records. Hooker and 49 of his classmates in the third through fifth grades stacked the containers and cups for 34 minutes, along with students from all 50 states and many nations all over the world.

Janet S. Carter / The Free Press

By Bryan Hanks, Managing Editor

Published: Thursday, November 15, 2012 at 10:54 PM.

Cheers, laughter and the sounds of dozens of happy children filled the gymnasium at Northeast Elementary School Thursday morning as a group of third through fifth graders participated in the Stack Up event.

According to a World Sport Stacking Association (WSSA) press release, the sport has been termed a “track meet for your hands at warp speed.” Students “up” stack and “down” stack 12 specially designed cups called Speed Stacks in predetermined sequences as fast as they can. Stackers race against the clock, compete in relays and often combine sport stacking with fitness challenges as part of physical education classes.

The Northeast students were attempting to break the Guinness Book of World Record mark for most “stackers” in a 24-hour period; the previous record was 412,259 stackers worldwide in 2011. Thursday’s event included 50 students from Northeast combining their efforts with stackers from all 50 states and dozens of countries throughout the world — shown on a map pinned to the wall of the school’s gym. The goal by organizers in the WSSA was for 450,000 participants on Thursday.

It was not known whether or not the effort had set the record as of press time.

Third-graders Jacques Whitfield and Fabulous Condery, both 9, took their task seriously.

“This is a lot of fun and it really helps me a lot in school,” Jacques said.

Fabulous exclaimed, “I have learned a lot about stacking and I love it!”

Cheers, laughter and the sounds of dozens of happy children filled the gymnasium at Northeast Elementary School Thursday morning as a group of third through fifth graders participated in the Stack Up event.

According to a World Sport Stacking Association (WSSA) press release, the sport has been termed a “track meet for your hands at warp speed.” Students “up” stack and “down” stack 12 specially designed cups called Speed Stacks in predetermined sequences as fast as they can. Stackers race against the clock, compete in relays and often combine sport stacking with fitness challenges as part of physical education classes.

The Northeast students were attempting to break the Guinness Book of World Record mark for most “stackers” in a 24-hour period; the previous record was 412,259 stackers worldwide in 2011. Thursday’s event included 50 students from Northeast combining their efforts with stackers from all 50 states and dozens of countries throughout the world — shown on a map pinned to the wall of the school’s gym. The goal by organizers in the WSSA was for 450,000 participants on Thursday.

It was not known whether or not the effort had set the record as of press time.

Third-graders Jacques Whitfield and Fabulous Condery, both 9, took their task seriously.

“This is a lot of fun and it really helps me a lot in school,” Jacques said.

Fabulous exclaimed, “I have learned a lot about stacking and I love it!”

Northeast Physical Education teacher and coach Leigh Patterson kept the clock for Thursday’s event, blowing her whistle to have students move among the stacking stations, which included freestyle, follow the leader, around the world, partner stacking, spot stack, relays and rapid fire.

Patterson said stacking is a valuable learning tool.

“It teaches them to use both hands,” Patterson said. “At this age, they’re either right-hand dominant or left-hand dominant and it gets them into using both hands.

“It also enforces their math skills with patterns and by watching each other. They have to emulate what the other does. It’s a very non-competitive activity for them so it builds self-esteem.”

Last year, Northeast Principal Kecia Dunn invited a professional cup-stacker to visit the school to fire up the children. Patterson also secured a $2,500 grant from Walmart to purchase the cups for Thursday’s attempt at the record.

For the past two weeks, the students practiced their stacking skills in preparation for Thursday’s event.

Dunn said some of her students were so excited, they had difficulty sleeping Wednesday night. She even admitted to some butterflies in her own stomach.

“The kids really got into it and you wouldn’t believe the creativity of the kids,” Dunn said with a smile. “It was amazing to see the patterns they’ve come up with. They’re excited because they’re doing something that is fun.”

Fifth-graders Jamyia Mitchell and Terion Arnold, both 10, were a little out of breath between stations, although they beamed with delight.

“I’ve learned the faster you do this, the better you get at doing it,” Jamyia said.

Terion said, “It’s good exercise, and it’s a lot of fun for me.”

At the conclusion of the event, Dunn congratulated the participants. Then, with Kool and the Gang’s “Celebration” playing over the school’s public address system, the stackers marched up and down the hall, receiving high-fives and praise from their school-mates, who lined both sides of the hallway.

“We are so, so proud of each of you,” Dunn told the stackers — whose excited cheers were thanks enough for the principal and her team of teachers and volunteers who helped with the exercise.

Bryan C. Hanks can be reached at 252-559-1074 or at Bryan.Hanks@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at BCHanks.

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Want to know more?

To find out more information about speed stacking, visit thewssa.com or speedstacks.com.